Ex-Scotland boss Brown heaps praise on Man Utd retiree Scholes

Midfield veteran Scholes today ended his glittering playing career which began in 1994 and saw him make almost 700 appearances for the Red Devils and one moment that has been remembered is his performance for England against Brown's Scotland back in a Euro qualifier in 1999.

That is one match that current Aberdeen boss Brown committed to memory when thinking of Scholes' playing days.

"I can't speak highly enough about him - even though he did us in at Hampden," Brown told Press Association Sport.

"He is a great example of a professional footballer and to have played more than 600 times for Manchester United is exceptional.

"I remember meeting him at a dinner years ago and he was so modest, as all the real stars are.

"It is the players with two caps who do all the talking.

"But that day at Hampden, the last thing I thought was that Scholes would score.

"He was not a prolific scorer and so there were no special instructions to deal with him.

"Our main concern was Shearer and Owen and we handled them well in both games.

"And if Paul Lambert had not been injured the week before in an Old Firm game, he would have been marking Scholes and would not have allowed him to makes the runs off him.

About the author

Andrew Slevison is an avid sports fan, particularly of the world game. The Melbourne, Australia native, who has spent time living in London and travelling South America, takes a keen interest in the English Premier League and Major League Soccer and rates his best live footballing moment as the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.